Tribeca Film Festival running through May 4, scores with top studio films and events, not just indies

By Robin Rowe

NEW YORK (Hollywood Today) 4/25/08 – The Tribeca Film Festival opened Wednesday with a screening ‘Baby Momma’. In this ‘Odd Couple’ meets ‘Baby Boom’ film, ‘SNL’ veterans Tina Fey and Amy Poehler explore surrogate motherhood. The film, released by Universal, is now in theaters everywhere.

“It’s an honor for ‘Baby Mama’ to open The Tribeca Film Festival,” says producer Lorne Michaels. “We all live and work in New York City.” ‘Baby Mama’, filmed primarily in New York City, is the directorial debut of former ‘Saturday Night Live’ writer Michael McCullers.

‘Redbelt’ screens tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival and again Sunday. David Mamet, himself a blue belt in jiu-jitsu, wrote and directed this fight film about a Jiu-jitsu teacher who has avoided the prizefighting circuit who must step into the ring for the first time in his life. A Sony Pictures Classics presentation, the film releases to theaters May 2^nd.

“I’m a fan of both the fight film and the samurai film,” says David Mamet. “Redbelt is my homage to both. I hope you enjoy it.”

“Mamet has a brilliant voice,” says festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to host the premiere of his latest film Redbelt at this year’s festival where it will also be the gala of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival.”

‘Speed Racer’ screens at the Tribeca Film Festival on May 3^rd. The Wachowski brothers live-action family adventure traces the comic book story of a racer’s quest for glory in his thunderous Mach 5. ‘Speed Racer’ opens nationwide on May 9^th. The film is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures.

“Warner Bros. has been a big part of the Festival many times over the years and we are thrilled that the Wachowskis and producer Joel Silver are bringing Speed Racer to us this year to close the Festival,” says festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal. “The Tribeca Film Festival is a defining event in New York’s entertainment culture,” says producer Joel Silver. “It’s an honor to have Speed Racer chosen as the festival’s closing night screening.”

The Tribeca Film Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. The festival has attracted over two million visitors to experience the power of cinema, generated more than $425 million in economic activity for New York City, and promotes New York City as a major filmmaking center.

Tribeca Film Festival sponsors include American Express, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, AMC Entertainment, Apple, Bloomberg, Brookfield Properties, Cadillac, Delta Air Lines, Empire State Development/I Love New York, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Montblanc, NBC4HD, RR Donnelley, The New York Times, Target, Telemundo 47, Vanity Fair, Verizon, Yahoo!, BMCC, IFC, iShares, LG Electronics and Snapple.

www.tribecafilmfestival.org

Robin Rowe is a co-founder of ScreenPlayLab (www.screenplaylab.com).